WUI (Writing under the influence)

Poland and the U.S. held preliminary talks on a proposed U.S. missile defense system for Europe that will be placed on Polish soil. The U.S. wants to place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar system in the Czech Republic.

"We are characterizing these talks as useful initial discussions," U.S. embassy spokesman Andrew Schilling said. He added, "both sides exchanged their views and philosphies on how negotiations on missile defence should go forward and, more specifically, about the Status of Forces Agreement," which covers U.S. troops on foreign soil.

A delegation led by Robert Loftis, the State Department's senior adviser for security negotiations and agreements, represented Washington.

The Bush Government has said that any system in central Europe would be purely defensive and aimed at thwarting incoming airborne attacks from the Middle East, and Iran in particular. This is apparently to assuage Russian concerns that the missile system will change the balance of power in Europe. Portions of the system have already been deployed in the United States, Britain and Greenland

Poland's Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga said before Parliament on Friday that Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski had signed an "instruction for negotiations", which set the talks in motion.

Kaczynski has said the missile defense system "would pose no threat to our eastern neighbors, particularly not Russia."

Next week, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Rood is to lead a delegation in further talks in Warsaw.

posted by Polish Immigrant  # 9:57 PM